Britain and the First World War: Parliament, Empire and Commemoration

The centenary of the start of the First World War will be marked in 2014. Britain entered the conflict in August 1914 and remained at war until November 1918.

This Library Note provides background reading on several aspects of the First World War. It discusses the activity of the British Parliament during the war: briefly describing a number of debates and statements which took place in August 1914 regarding the outbreak of war and Britain’s entry into the conflict; and summarising a small selection of legislation that was enacted by Parliament during the war. The Note then looks at a number of countries from the British Empire and the British Dominions who sent troops overseas to fight in the war. Finally, it provides information on the British Government’s programme to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the First World War.